UPDATE: GREENPEACE ACTIONS IN THE ATLANTIC FRONTIER
5th July 1997
After successfully preventing two survey vessels from carrying out seismic testing in the Atlantic Frontier yesterday, Greenpeace has continued to block survey activity over night.
Yesterday afternoon the MV Greenpeace launched inflatables carrying 13 activists to prevent the Geo Explorer and the Malene Ostervold from carrying out testing work in tranches 44 and 47 of the Frontier, some 120 miles from Rockall.
At 2045 hours yesterday evening the MV Greenpeace stopped in the testing path of the two vessels and refused to move. The testing vessels, which were around five nautical miles away from the Greenpeace ship, issued collision warnings and called upon Greenpeace Captain John Castle to move. Castle, who had deliberately left between four and five nautical miles manoeuvring room to prevent risk of collision, refused to move. Some 30 to 40 minutes later the testing vessels changed course.
A survey vessel has to pursue a straight line and complete a testing run in order to effectively survey an area. Forcing the ships to change course disrupts that process and invalidates the test run.
At 0930 hours this morning (5th July) the MV Greenpeace again stopped engines in the path of the two ships and again forced them to alter their course. At 1330 hours the MV Greenpeace repeated the manoeuvre.
This latest action means that Greenpeace has been stopping seismic testing in the North East Atlantic for the last four days. On the second and third of July activists prevented a testing ship from leaving Ullapool in a 17 hour occupation of the vessel. The week before it stopped another vessel, the Pacific Horizon from testing in tranche 36. Greenpeace campaigner on board the MV Greenpeace Rick Le Coyte said, "The climate simply cannot stand the use of more, new oil and this exploration must stop. Britain should be taking the lead in phasing out fossil fuels not in scrabbling for yet more."
Greenpeace has communicated with all the oil companies holding 17th round licenses in the Atlantic Frontier and with seismic testing vessels explaining the nature of the campaign and calling upon them to abandon exploration on the grounds of climate change. In addition, Greenpeace believes that the Government issued 17th round licenses unlawfully and that the exploration is, therefore, illegal.
Meanwhile, the two activists on Rockall continue to live inside their Solar Survival Capsule and to watch the seas with interest. The two are kept up to date on the seismic activities via e-mail and speaking from the rock, Peter said, "We are part of a small group trying to defend the climate against the might of the oil companies and the hypocrisy of Government. It may be uncomfortable but its worth it."
At the moment a strong wind is lashing waves over the top of the capsule and the activists have to stay inside.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Greenpeace Press Office on ++ 44 (0)171-865 8255/6/7/8